Offer a blessing

Saying a blessing over your child at a key point in the day, such as before preschool or at bedtime, can help them connect deeply with you and with God. Hold or make eye contact with your child to create a special moment. The Rev. Joanna Cummings, pastor with children and families at East End United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, shares this with her baby: “I bless you as you grow, I bless you as you go, I bless you as you play, I bless you today.” the Rev. Kathy Pittenger, Children’s Initiatives Coordinator for the Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church, shares this with her school-age children: “God bless my children and help them to grow bigger and stronger and wiser and more in love with God and all people every day.”

-- From "8 Ways to Nurture Faith in Young Children," umc.org